<p>I’ve read that in the state legislature he worked well with people across the aisle. Also, the other two candidates, in my mind, are both likely to be belligerent, defensive, and divisive. Obama appears to be highly intelligent, a decent and likable person, and relatively scandal-free. In my mind, that puts him ahead of Hillary, McCain, and at least the last eight Presidents.
I love this rap on Obama that his supporters have been “mesmerized.” I guess that’s to counteract the less-than-mesmerizing qualities of both Clinton and McCain.</p>
<p>“If he wins it will have virtually no impact on my life. Even if he loses it will have no impact.”</p>
<p>Now, there’s a man who lives in the land of hope.</p>
<p>“I’ve read that in the state legislature he worked well with people across the aisle. Also, the other two candidates, in my mind, are both likely to be belligerent, defensive, and divisive.”</p>
<p>Then why has Obama not shown an attitude of flexibility in the US Senate? Even Hillary has shown to be more willing to take pragmatic/centrist views.</p>
<p>The right wing social conservatives are justified in their alarm. They are witnessing the massive rejection of their ideology by both major political parties. </p>
<p>Look, after many years the pendulum is swinging the other way now and it still has some distance to go. But it isn’t so bad. The Democratic frontrunner is not demonizing them and the Republican presumptive nominee is trying to make nice.</p>
<p>From bz’s “ticker”: </p>
<p>"It’s probably safe to say that you have arrived as a politician when your audience applauds when you blow your nose. </p>
<p>Yes, just a day before a debate in Texas, Sen. Barack Obama has a head cold. And about a half-hour into a speech here, the Illinois Democrat announced that he had to take a quick break. “Gotta blow my nose here for a second,” Obama said. </p>
<p>Out came a Kleenex (or perhaps it was a hankie), and he wiped his nose. The near-capacity audience at the Reunion Arena, which his campaign said totaled 17,000, broke out in a slightly awkward applause."</p>
<p>This could be the same “slightly awkward applause” that McCain Or Hillary get when they try to tell a joke.</p>
<p>The subject of the day around here has been how can McCain’s people and/or the media better emphasize the fact that he is truly a man of HONOR.</p>
<p>The NYT’s article is especially infuriating because McCain is such a man of integrity. He was raised among GENERATIONS of Navy men and Annapolis (USNA) graduates where “Honor, Courage, Commitment” is a constant mantra. There is nothing more precious to Navy men than their HONOR!</p>
<p>Further, it stands to reason that, given McCain’s POW experiences, he would’ve questioned - not just everyday, but every MINUTE - just “what am I enduring all this FOR?”. He would’ve HAD to conclude over and over and over again that he is doing it for his COUNTRY - the love for his country and his patriotism would’ve been constantly reaffirmed - to a greater extent than any of us can even imagine! He was repeatedly offered release, and then BEATEN for refusing. He set an EXAMPLE for others who all knew what he was doing. THAT’S LEADERSHIP! THAT’S HONOR! THAT’S COURAGE!</p>
<p>It’s amazing that there are people who are willing to put their faith and the cherished future of this country in such a naive, misguided “Lorelei” as Obama, who is so inexperienced that he doesn’t even know what he doesn’t know!</p>
<p>Rest assured - McCain KNOWS what to do as POTUS, knows the RIGHT people to put in key positions, and will have the honor and courage to do what is RIGHT for America - not just what is politically expedient!</p>
<p>I submit that there has NEVER BEEN a candidate as qualified as McCain!<br>
Add to that all of his integrity, honor and heroism and we have someone who SHOULD win in a landslide! </p>
<p>It would be a grievous mistake to elect anyone else - and I really really fear for America if that were to happen!</p>
<p>bz2010: I agree with much of your praise for McCain. He is an honorable man.</p>
<p>But seriously, honor is waaaaay overrated, especially when it comes to a President.</p>
<p>Of the last seven Presidents: George W, Clinton, Bush Sr, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, the two most “honorable” Presidents were:</p>
<p>Bush Sr and Carter.</p>
<p>Neither is remembered as a great President.</p>
<p>I don’t know that much about McCain. Heck, I may even vote for him.</p>
<p>However, I think the whole “honor” thing is a bit difficult to understand if he was cheating on his first wife when he met his second wife. It seems he married the current wife very shortly after his divorce. I have read some “tickers” that suggest he left his first wife after she was in an accident, and that he had “wandered” during his first marriage.</p>
<p>This may be why the NY Times story has some legs. It may be that some people think he has a pattern of this type of behavior. I have no idea. I am just speculating.</p>
<p>I agree that his service to this country is honorable. However, the fact that he was a prisoner of war, and a “war hero” shouldn’t minimize or erase any of his other potentially dishonorable behavior if the stories are true.</p>
<p>BZ2010,
I think you might be a little mesmerized by military propaganda. Military personnel are people. I’ve known many. They, on the balance, are no more honorable than any other people. For many it’s just a job because they come from socioeconomic backgrounds that make it the most stable job they could secure. </p>
<p>To simply dismiss Obama as inexperienced is to dismiss the fact that his realm of experience is simply in a different category than you might conventionally perceive as “noble”. Has he fought with gun in hand on foreign soil to further the economic/political interests of the U.S.? No, he has not. But he has voluntarily fought in the inner city streets to make life better for the most disenfranchised in our country - without any side benefit of a stable career track, free meals, and free housing. In that sense, he has served his country with more honor, courage, and commitment than a vast majority of Americans, both in and out of the military. </p>
<p>I respect McCain a great deal and, aside from some absurd policy beliefs, would be proud to have him as a president. I just think you’re reducing “serving your country” down to a very narrow focus involving carrying guns (which is very Republican centric) rather than working to get people to stop having to carry guns (which is very Democrat centric). Both can be noble and incredibly rewarding experiences.</p>
<p>If McCain were so honorable how’d he get involved in the Keating 5 affair? I’ll give him credit, he apologized and seemed contrite. I don’t think he’s a saint, but I don’t think he’s a big sinner either. It seemed to me that the gist of the NYT article was not that McCain had done anything wrong, but that his aids were worried that he might. When you are in the public spotlight, it’s not always enough to be honorable, you also have to appear honorable. Seems like a tempest in a teapot to me. At least at this point.</p>
<p>McCain’s “Honor” is inextricably connected to his “Patriotism”.</p>
<p>He has demonstrated - over and over - that he WILL do the RIGHT thing for America. He is not a “war-monger” as some would like to suggest - quite the contrary! He, more than any other candidate or President over the last half century, understands the gravity of using troops. (And he has two sons on active duty!!).</p>
<p>And even if we were to take “Honor” off the table completely - McCain has the EXPERIENCE and KNOWLEDGE for the job of POTUS. None of the other candidates even comes close! As I said before, he knows the right people to place in key positions (I heard him mention putting the head of FedEx in charge of FEMA). McCain can “hit the ground running”!</p>
<p>I’m saying John McCain has honor along with all those other qualifications!</p>
<p>We should be thankful McCain is even running!</p>
<p>I just pray that America wakes up from the Obama “dream” before it’s too late!</p>
<p>^ I agreed with you for the most part until you said, “we should be thankful McCain is even running”.</p>
<p>Now, I think that the McCain campaign has started to distribute Kool-Aid too. :eek:</p>
<p>Responding to the initial question: No, I don’t think Obama can/will bring “change” in terms of politics. I believe very much that all this talk is just talk, and HE will change if he gets into WH. What’s wrong is that a lot of people will be, again, disillusioned by politics and stay away from it.
On the other hand, McCain sounds more an more like GWB, and his “straight talk” is more like “double-straight talk” lately. See his position on waterboarding and other.</p>
<p>1sokkermom - lol! I went back & added that line!</p>
<p>I AM thankful that McCain is running! All things considered, he’s the one with the gonads for the job.</p>
<p>Now that you mention his gonads…</p>
<p>vp - haha! Yeah, I was thnking this whole NYT thing might actually work to McCain’s favor - maybe it’s proof that he’s “up” to the job!</p>